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August 23, 2014

First time since WW-II, India to buy amphibious aircraft from Japan

India is set to become the first country to buy a military aircraft
from Japan since World War II, senior ministry officials told dna on
condition of anonymity.
The agenda for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's four-day visit to
Japan, from August 31 to September 3, is to sign a long pending civil
nuclear deal. But the two are more likely to attract attention when
Delhi signs a deal for the purchase of six Utility Seaplane Mark 2
(US-2) amphibian aircraft. Sources in the South Block, which houses the
defence ministry, said that efforts are being made to finalise the deal
to boost stronger defence ties between New Delhi and Tokyo.
Japan had stopped all arms exports after World War-II, which ended
with the absolute destruction of two Japanese cities — Hiroshima and
Nagasaki — by the United States' atom bombs. But Japanese Prime Minister
Shinzo Abe recently ended the decades old self-imposed ban to ease
military sale to foreign countries.
The Indian navy and the coast guard require amphibious aircraft for
patrolling and surveillance on the Indian coast, including in the island
territories of the Andaman and Nicobar.
The 47-tonne US-2 aircraft doesn't require a long airstrip to
take-off or to land. It is capable of taking off from land and water
(300-metre stretch). It can carry loads of upto 18 tonnes and can be
engaged in search and rescue operations. With a range of over 4,500 km,
it can patrol areas 1,800 km away and react to an emergency by landing
30 armed troops even in 10-foot waves.
Defence ministry officials claim that Japanese firm i.e ShinMaywa
Industries was the only one to have come close to match the requirements
of the Indian navy's Request for Information (RFI) about amphibious
aircraft in 2011.
Apart from buying the six aircraft, India will also seek joint
manufacturing of parts, said officials privy to the development.
"Besides buying six US-2 off the shelf from Japan, India could also seek
approval of production of some parts for the aircraft here in India. We
have learn't that Japan has recently eased its rules for the sale of
defence equipment and the subsequent transfer of technology," said an
officer, who is in the know.
- DNA